AN Appleton industrial estate has been criticised by passers-by for its ongoing litter problem.

A large build-up of waste on the Appleton Thorn Trading Estate, Lyncastle Road, is said to have been there for a number of years – but no action has been taken.

Plastic bottles, paper and cans can been on the site ground, stuck in the surrounding fences and hedgerows.

One resident, who did not want to be named, contacted the Warrington Guardian to say it was time for action.

They added: "The rubbish is clearly connected to the site as it decreases quickly once the site ends. I can't understand how the companies who are located at the site can just put up with it – they must see it every day and know where the rubbish comes from.

"I would have thought that the parish council and residents would have been onto this and had discussions with the site.

"I know that side of Appleton well and it was always a really lovely area adjoining open countryside – to see companies just scattering their litter and ignoring it seems incomprehensible to me."

Appleton Parish Council said they are fully aware of the litter around Appleton Thorn Trading Estate however 'due to the speed of the roads, the parish council are unable to litter pick for health and safety reasons'.

It said: "Any road that is above 30mph speed limit requires traffic management i.e. the closure of one side of the road with temporary traffic lights.

"As this is Warrington Borough Council's responsibility, the parish council have asked them many times for it to litter pick these areas and for an enforcement officer to visit the business premises on the trading estate in order to discourage drivers from throwing litter from their lorries."

A spokesman for Warrington Borough Council said: "We have arranged for a Street Scene Officer to visit the area within the next 10 working days to investigate.

"If work is required this will be placed on a schedule which can take six to eight weeks to complete. Upon investigating if the work is deemed high importance the work will be completed sooner."